December 2, 2005

FREE-FLOATING ANGST ISN'T A GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY:

Profusion of Rebel Groups Helps Them Survive in Iraq (DEXTER FILKINS, 12/02/05, NY Times)

Here is a small sampling of the insurgent groups that have claimed responsibility for attacks on Americans and Iraqis in the last few months:

Supporters of the Sunni People. The Men's Faith Brigade. The Islamic Anger. Al Baraa bin Malik Suicide Brigade. The Tawid Lions of Abdullah ibn al Zobeir. While some of them, like the Suicide Brigade, claim an affiliation with Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and Al Qaeda claims them, others say they have acted alone or under the guidance of another group.

While on Wednesday President Bush promised nothing less than "complete victory" over the Iraqi insurgency, the apparent proliferation of militant groups offers perhaps the best explanation as to why the insurgency has been so hard to destroy.


It also though explains why the insurgency isn't a long term threat--they have no unified purpose nor plan and nothing to offer the Iraqi people.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 2, 2005 8:51 AM
Comments

The names sound like a sequel to the rebel conference scenes in "Monty Python and the Life of Brian".

Posted by: John at December 2, 2005 9:55 AM

Since it costs nothing to give yourself a new name, I wouldn't read much into this. It could mean (a) that terrorist tactics have utterly discredited Al Qaeda, so that even the terrorists have to disassociate themselves, in which case it's evidence we're winning; or (b) it's strategy - they feel if they operate under many names it will make them look bigger, and help demoralize the West.

If it's (b), it's worked - at least at the New York Times.

Posted by: pj at December 2, 2005 11:25 AM

or, (c) they're an incoherent mess wedded to death and nothing else.

Posted by: oj at December 2, 2005 11:29 AM

What happens when the Lions of Islam suddenly find themselves outflanked by the Razor Sharp Sword of Muhammed? Or when Mookie's Minions bump into Abu's Archangels?

Take a number....

Posted by: ratbert at December 2, 2005 4:27 PM
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